Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mendoza and San Isidro, Argentina

For one person, living is cheaper in San Isidro: $1,128 a month against $1,389 in Mendoza, rent and utilities included – about $3,100 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Mendoza, Argentina
San Isidro, Argentina
Mendoza
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,389
/mo nomad
San Isidro
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,128
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mendoza and in San Isidro

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mendoza and in San Isidro actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,389 per month in Mendoza vs $1,128 in San Isidro, rent included.

  • Mendoza $1,389
  • San Isidro $1,128

A couple spends around $2,178 per month in Mendoza vs $1,777 in San Isidro, rent included.

  • Mendoza $2,178
  • San Isidro $1,777

A family of three spends $2,967 per month in Mendoza vs $2,426 in San Isidro, rent included.

  • Mendoza $2,967
  • San Isidro $2,426

Mendoza costs about 23% more than San Isidro, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Mendoza sits 2% above the global median, while San Isidro is 17% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mendoza
San Isidro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.87 ARS 16.7K
$9.96 ARS 15.3K
9.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.24 ARS 75.7K
$37.88 ARS 58.3K
29.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.44 ARS 22.2K
$11.35 ARS 17.5K
27.22%
Cappuccino
$4.43 ARS 6,817
$3.02 ARS 4,642
46.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 ARS 3,627
$1.68 ARS 2,590
40.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95 ARS 2,996
$1.70 ARS 2,613
14.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.11 ARS 6,315
$4.05 ARS 6,227
1.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.47 ARS 6,877
$2.29 ARS 3,526
95.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mendoza
San Isidro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 ARS 2,118
$1.30 ARS 1,995
6.15%
White Bread (500g)
$2.20 ARS 3,390
$1.63 ARS 2,513
34.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.81 ARS 4,319
$1.51 ARS 2,318
86.09%
Eggs
$3.21 ARS 4,936
$2.24 ARS 3,450
43.30%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.63 ARS 22.5K
$8.21 ARS 12.6K
78.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.30 ARS 9,684
$6.02 ARS 9,257
4.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.00 ARS 16.9K
$10.41 ARS 16.0K
5.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 ARS 3,523
$1.92 ARS 2,958
19.27%
Banana (1kg)
$2.17 ARS 3,340
$1.58 ARS 2,436
37.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.35 ARS 2,075
$1.02 ARS 1,562
32.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.33 ARS 5,118
$2.04 ARS 3,133
63.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.01 ARS 3,085
$0.92 ARS 1,423
118.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.52 ARS 2,344
$0.63 ARS 972
141.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.93 ARS 2,970
$1.53 ARS 2,358
26.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.53 ARS 3,887
$1.78 ARS 2,741
42.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.80 ARS 4,306
$3.36 ARS 5,170
-16.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$4.99 ARS 7,676
$4.66 ARS 7,162
7.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ARS 2,741
$1.22 ARS 1,882
45.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ARS 4,491
$2.79 ARS 4,287
4.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Mendoza
San Isidro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.03 ARS 1,582
$0.96 ARS 1,476
7.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.16 ARS 31.0K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.04 ARS 3,140
$1.56 ARS 2,394
30.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 ARS 1,567
$0.98 ARS 1,508
4.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.95 ARS 7,614
$8.13 ARS 12.5K
-39.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.21 ARS 1,869
$1.11 ARS 1,701
9.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K ARS 42.4M
$24.0K ARS 36.9M
14.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K ARS 51.4M
$30.1K ARS 46.2M
11.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mendoza
San Isidro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$146 ARS 224.0K
$60.6 ARS 93.2K
140.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.24 ARS 26.5K
$19.74 ARS 30.4K
-12.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11 ARS 37.1K
$27.18 ARS 41.8K
-11.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mendoza
San Isidro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.33 ARS 48.2K
$34.69 ARS 53.4K
-9.69%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.39 ARS 28.3K
$23.73 ARS 36.5K
-22.50%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 ARS 10.6K
$4.74 ARS 7,295
45.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mendoza
San Isidro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$171 ARS 263.5K
$233 ARS 358.9K
-26.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,084 ARS 6.3M
$4,226 ARS 6.5M
-3.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mendoza
San Isidro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$128 ARS 196.7K
$90.8 ARS 139.6K
40.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$142 ARS 217.9K
$60.7 ARS 93.3K
133.52%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$144 ARS 220.9K
$115 ARS 177.2K
24.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$156 ARS 240.6K
$139 ARS 214.5K
12.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mendoza
San Isidro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$557 ARS 856.2K
$527 ARS 810.4K
5.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$352 ARS 542.1K
$379 ARS 583.2K
-7.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$966 ARS 1.5M
$1,193 ARS 1.8M
-19.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$666 ARS 1.0M
$701 ARS 1.1M
-4.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,699 ARS 2.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,127 ARS 1.7M
$1,398 ARS 2.2M
-19.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mendoza
San Isidro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$778 ARS 1.2M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
59
57.25
3.06%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mendoza: October 27, 2026

Last update for San Isidro: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mendoza
$352
San Isidro
$379 7.6% $27
Groceries & Markets
Mendoza
$287
San Isidro
$216 24.6% $70
Clothing & Footwear
Mendoza
$256
San Isidro
$183 28.7% $74
Eating Out
Mendoza
$230
San Isidro
$188 18.2% $42
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mendoza
$187
San Isidro
$107 42.5% $80
Sport & Entertainment
Mendoza
$45
San Isidro
$44 2.1% $1
Getting Around
Mendoza
$31
San Isidro
$10 * 67.2% $21

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $557 in Mendoza versus $527 in San Isidro. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49 in Mendoza versus $38 in San Isidro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $287 vs $216 – making San Isidro the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇦🇷 Mendoza
🇦🇷 San Isidro
🕒 Local time
11:10 11:10 AM
11:10 11:10 AM
Same time as Mendoza
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
937,154
45,190
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to ARS – Argentine Peso Converter

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 1,538 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.5 USD). 1 EUR = 1,712 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.84 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mendoza San Isidro 970 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Mendoza
  • San Isidro

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Mendoza vs San Isidro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is San Isidro cheaper than Mendoza?
Yes – Mendoza is pricier by about 23%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,084 per month in Mendoza and $1,692 in San Isidro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Mendoza and San Isidro?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $557 in Mendoza and $527 in San Isidro. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
What are total monthly expenses in Mendoza and in San Isidro?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,389 in Mendoza and $1,128 in San Isidro. That’s a gap of about 23%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $171 per month in Mendoza and $233 in San Isidro. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 enough for either Mendoza or San Isidro?
$2,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,389 in Mendoza and $1,128 in San Isidro, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is it better to live in Mendoza or in San Isidro?
It depends on your priorities. Mendoza has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,128 in San Isidro to $1,389 in Mendoza. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is safer, Mendoza or San Isidro?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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